Discovering objects in an ontology database

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for discovering objects in a database containing a populated ontology. A first network is constructed with objects as the nodes and the shared concepts as the edges between the objects. A second network is constructed with nodes corresponding to the terms related to the search term and the search term synonyms and objects associated with the search term and the search term synonyms, where the edges correspond to the relationships between the terms and the objects. First and second scores are generated for each object in an ontology database based on the first and second networks, respectively, which are combined to form a final score for each object in the ontology database. After ranking the objects in the ontology database based on their associated final scores, objects from the ontology database are presented to the user based on their rank.

1 . A computer-implemented method for discovering objects in a database containing a populated ontology, the method comprising:
 constructing a first network with objects as nodes and shared concepts as edges between said objects;   calculating a first score for each object in said ontology database to determine an object importance based on a number of connections in said first network to other objects and based on a number of connections in said first network to objects with a number of connections to other objects that exceeds a threshold number;   receiving a search term;   determining terms that are synonyms to said search term;   constructing a second network with nodes corresponding to terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms and objects associated with said search term and said search term synonyms, wherein edges of said second network correspond to relationships between said terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms and said objects associated with said search term and said search term synonyms;   calculating a second score for each object in said ontology database based on a number of connections in said second network to said search term and said search term synonyms and based on a number of connections in said second network to said terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms;   combining said first and second scores to obtain a final score for each object in said ontology database;   ranking objects in said ontology database based on associated final scores; and   presenting objects from said ontology database to a user based on their associated rank.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 querying said ontology database for all objects and their associated concepts. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 storing said first score associated with each object within said ontology database. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 querying said ontology database for said objects associated with said search term and said search term synonyms. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 querying said ontology database for said terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein data quality is used as a weight in said calculated first score. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said presented objects from said ontology database comprise one or more of the following: documents, web pages and descriptions of physical objects within an electronic archive. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product for discovering objects in a database containing a populated ontology, the computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage mediums having program code embodied therewith, the program code comprising programming instructions for:
 constructing a first network with objects as nodes and shared concepts as edges between said objects;   calculating a first score for each object in said ontology database to determine an object importance based on a number of connections in said first network to other objects and based on a number of connections in said first network to objects with a number of connections to other objects that exceeds a threshold number;   receiving a search term;   determining terms that are synonyms to said search term;   constructing a second network with nodes corresponding to terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms and objects associated with said search term and said search term synonyms, wherein edges of said second network correspond to relationships between said terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms and said objects associated with said search term and said search term synonyms;   calculating a second score for each object in said ontology database based on a number of connections in said second network to said search term and said search term synonyms and based on a number of connections in said second network to said terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms;   combining said first and second scores to obtain a final score for each object in said ontology database;   ranking objects in said ontology database based on associated final scores; and   presenting objects from said ontology database to a user based on their associated rank.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the program code further comprises the programming instructions for:
 querying said ontology database for all objects and their associated concepts.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the program code further comprises the programming instructions for:
 storing said first score associated with each object within said ontology database.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the program code further comprises the programming instructions for:
 querying said ontology database for said objects associated with said search term and said search term synonyms.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the program code further comprises the programming instructions for:
 querying said ontology database for said terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 8 , wherein data quality is used as a weight in said calculated first score. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said presented objects from said ontology database comprise one or more of the following: documents, web pages and descriptions of physical objects within an electronic archive. 
     
     
         15 . A strategic planning system, comprising:
 a memory for storing a computer program for discovering objects in a database containing a populated ontology; and   a processor connected to said memory, wherein said processor is configured to execute program instructions of the computer program comprising:
 constructing a first network with objects as nodes and shared concepts as edges between said objects; 
 calculating a first score for each object in said ontology database to determine an object importance based on a number of connections in said first network to other objects and based on a number of connections in said first network to objects with a number of connections to other objects that exceeds a threshold number; 
 receiving a search term; 
 determining terms that are synonyms to said search term; 
 constructing a second network with nodes corresponding to terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms and objects associated with said search term and said search term synonyms, wherein edges of said second network correspond to relationships between said terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms and said objects associated with said search term and said search term synonyms; 
 calculating a second score for each object in said ontology database based on a number of connections in said second network to said search term and said search term synonyms and based on a number of connections in said second network to said terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms; 
 combining said first and second scores to obtain a final score for each object in said ontology database; 
 ranking objects in said ontology database based on associated final scores; and 
 presenting objects from said ontology database to a user based on their associated rank. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:
 querying said ontology database for all objects and their associated concepts.   
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:
 storing said first score associated with each object within said ontology database.   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:
 querying said ontology database for said objects associated with said search term and said search term synonyms.   
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:
 querying said ontology database for said terms related to said search term and said search term synonyms.   
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein data quality is used as a weight in said calculated first score.